MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - IELRC.ORGMUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MATRIMONIAL...

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINGA CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE

MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY IN KENYA

Patricia Kameri-Mbote and Muriuki Muriungi

Published in: 6 Zanzibar Yearbook of Law (2016), p. 71-102.

International EnvironmentalLaw Research Centre

International Environmental Law Research Centreinfo@ielrc.orgwww.ielrc.org

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY IN KENYA

Patricia Kameri-Mbote,. & Muriuki Muriungi,.,.

I. Introduction

II. The Conceptual Bases of Matrimonial Property

A. The Doctrine of Coverture and Its Incidents

B. Communal Vis a Vis Separate Property Holding

III. Matrimonial Property from a Historical Perspective

A. The Problem with Legal Pluralism and Its Implications for Matrimonial Property

B. Law's Solution to the Problem: MWPA

C. Giving with one Hand and Taking with the Other Hand: Jurisprudence on Matrimonial Property before the Constitution of Kenya 2010

IV. The Promise: Constitution of Kenya 2010

A. Equality and Non-Discrimination

B. Protection of Matrimonial Property

C. Ray of Hope: Jurisprudence between 2010 and 2013

V. Encounters between Reality and Rhetoric

A. Matrimonial Property Act (MPA) 201 3

B. Land Laws (Amendment) Act 201 6

C. Jurisprudence on Matrimonial Property Post 201 3

VI. Conclusion

I. Introduction

Kenya's Constitution recognizes the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society which needs the protection of the State.1 Despite this exhortation of the Constitution, issues pertaining to the family continue to

ofo Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Contacts: profpkmbote@gmail.com

ofoofo Graduate Assistant, School of Law, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Contacts: titomurk@gmail.com

1 Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.